Black Sexton Beetle

Always nice to see one of this stinky little family

Nicrophorus humator

Gadwall drop in

A pair of Gadwall dropped in over the weekend. Don't seem to be there now (Monday)

Sober newts

on the path at night, 20/03

Dromius quadrimaculatus 0 a new beetle to Cullaloe

A nocturnal, tree-dwelling ground beetle, which is best searched for at night on tree trunks, where it roams presumably hoovering up other small invertebrates

Get ready ...

... for the ladybird explosion

Spring fever

Chiffchaffs back singing on the reserve at least since yesterday morning. Today the hover flies were out and you have to watch where you're putting your feet!

Anthocoris nemoralis a new bug for Cullaloe

A common enough species, but not recorded before, apparently.

Nemurella picteti - a new stonefly for Cullaloe

Apparently common and widespread, this is the first for Cullaloe's list, found on the top of the bridge over the burn (="stream" for non-Scots!) - a pretty typical place to find a stonefly. This is the second new stonefly of the year.

Marchantia polymorpha

A liverwort often seen in greenhouses and garden paths, this one is living happily on the edges of the main footpath to the hide

Leuctra hippopus - a stonefly new to the reserve

Swept from beside the burn yesterday